Heartland Payroll vs ThePayStubs Comparison
Heartland Payroll
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Medium Business
- Small Business
Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, cost accounting and tracking of…
ThePayStubs
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
ThePayStubs is the best way to quickly generate online pay stubs. Instantly print or access pay stubs to help keep track of salary, taxes, and overtime pay. Get all the info you need about your earnings and deductions wi…
Heartland Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 118 reviews.
Heartland Payroll vs ThePayStubs — at a glance
| Feature | Heartland Payroll | ThePayStubs |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | — |
| Reviews | 118 | — |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | — |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep) | 24/7 (Live rep), Online |
| Certifications | — | — |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between Heartland Payroll and ThePayStubs
- Target audience: Heartland Payroll is built for Medium Business and Small Business, while ThePayStubs targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- Deployment: Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; ThePayStubs supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Heartland Payroll vs ThePayStubs — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
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Heartland Payroll vs ThePayStubs: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.
- You run a retail, hospitality, or healthcare business with 20-500 employees.
- You want automated tax filings and integrated payment processing to reduce manual work.
- You value responsive, knowledgeable payroll specialists for personalized customer support.
- Your company is a large enterprise with complex payroll needs requiring high customization.
- You need a highly customizable payroll entry and reporting system beyond standard options.
Best for quick, secure pay stub creation for small businesses and freelancers.
- You need instant generation of professional pay stubs without payroll complexity
- You are a freelancer, sole proprietor, or small business owner with up to 20 employees
- You want a simple, user-friendly tool requiring no accounting background
- You require full payroll management including tax filings and direct deposit services
- You need integrations with accounting or HR software for growing business needs
Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support. ThePayStubs: Best for quick, secure pay stub creation for small businesses and freelancers.
Description | Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, ... Read More about Heartland Payroll | ThePayStubs is the best way to quickly generate online pay stubs. Instantly print or access pay stubs to help keep track of salary, taxes, and overtime pay. Get all the info you need about ... Read More about ThePayStubs |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.7/10 | 8.9/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 20-50 employees51-500 employees | 1-20 employeesSole proprietors |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Integrated Payments & Payroll: Combines payroll with Heartland's payment processing, simplifying employee compensation and business transactions.
- Compliance & Tax Filing: Automates federal, state, and local tax filings, helping reduce compliance risks and administrative workload.
- User-Friendly Platform: Designed to simplify payroll with easy-to-use dashboards, direct deposit options, and responsive customer support.
- Instant Pay Stub Generation: Users can generate accurate, professional-looking pay stubs in minutes with customizable fields.
- No Software Installation Required: The cloud-based platform works directly from any browser—no setup, downloads, or long-term contracts.
- Cost-Efficient and Flexible: Ideal for small businesses or freelancers who need occasional pay stubs without committing to a full payroll system.
Best fit
- 20–500 employees
- Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and small to mid-sized businesses
- Payroll Managers, HR Directors, Finance Officers, Business Owners, and Operations Managers
- 1–20 employees
- Freelancing, gig economy, real estate, consulting, small retail, and home-based businesses
- Sole Proprietors, Independent Contractors, Freelancers, Accountants, and Small Business Owners
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Businesses seeking deeper integration between payment processing and payroll may explore other all-in-one providers.
- Companies requiring advanced HR management, benefits administration, or time tracking may consider broader HCM platforms.
- Firms with multi-state or complex compliance needs might look for payroll solutions specializing in regulatory support.
- Businesses needing a fast, no-frills tool for creating professional pay stubs on demand without full payroll software.
- Freelancers and small business owners seeking a quick way to document income for loans, leases, or employee records.
- Companies that don’t require end-to-end payroll processing but need accurate, printable payroll documents.
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Heartland Payroll and ThePayStubs Compare on Features?
Total Features | 12 Features | 12 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Heartland Payroll and ThePayStubs on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Heartland Payroll vs ThePayStubs: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Heartland Payroll vs ThePayStubs Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
|---|---|---|
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
Heartland Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | No reviews available for the product | |
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Rating Distribution | No reviews available for this product | |
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate the user-friendly platform and strong customer service but note onboarding challenges and portal access issues. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users appreciate the platform’s speed, ease of use, and security for quick pay stub generation but note its limited payroll features and lack of integrations. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Media and Screenshots
Videos |  2 Videos |  2 Videos |
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Top Alternatives to Heartland Payroll and ThePayStubs in 2026
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Heartland Payroll or ThePayStubs?
- Heartland Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Heartland Payroll and ThePayStubs offer a free trial?
- Neither Heartland Payroll nor ThePayStubs currently lists a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Heartland Payroll vs ThePayStubs?
- Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. ThePayStubs starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Heartland Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.
- What are the top alternatives to ThePayStubs?
- Top alternatives to ThePayStubs include Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll.